New study ties teen aggression to video games, feathers ruffled

Brock University in Canada has released a report that discloses a four-year study into the links between teenage aggression and playing violent videogames. The findings suggest that there is a direct link between the two.

The paper, which is entitled Developmental Psychology, explains that 1,500 students at an Ontario high school were asked to keep a journal of their violent behaviour over four years – such as hitting classmates and other acts.

The Telegraph reports that participants were almost evenly split between male and female students aged either 14-15 or 17-18.

The report suggests that yes, those who had been exposed to violent videogames were committing violent acts more than others, and although the report does state that it gave leeway to other factors such as drug use, under-age drinking, and other factors, the paper still suggests gaming is the key issue for their behaviour.

Those who weren’t exposed to violent games saw no rise in aggressive behaviour, however, as the Telegraph points out, those who were being violent were actually being no more violent than usual, throwing the results under scrutiny.

What’s your take on this? Is it an old issue, or would you like better research to be done? Let us know below.